UGLY DUCKLINGS
LT COL NOEL ELLIS
24/VIII/2023
There are a few Dhabas on the highway here popular for serving piping hot ‘Kadi-Sogra’. Kadi is Kadi and sogra is a thick Bajra Roti dripping with desi ghee. Also, another delight served at these shacks is Urad Dal ri Pakori. Mouth watering, isn’t it!
Often on my photo shoots, we pass by these eateries. There are a few water bodies and ponds in which one can find water birds like ducks, herons, egrets, stilts, moorhens, Ibis etc.
On the way back we do take a pit-stop. Garma garm pakoris and chai, you just cannot miss. Crisp, masaledaar, a little teekha, served with yummy green dhaniya-pudiana-hari mirch chutney and fried & salted green chilles are irresistible. The aroma floats in the air & makes you jam your brakes for a break.
A trip today to that water body was for a different reason.
About two weeks back, I had caught a duck nestling on an overhang of Kikar branches in the centre of the lake. A few quick shots and she got alerted. The duck dived into the water leaving her eggs behind. To photograph the eggs from that distance was not possible. I promised her that I shall return to check on her in a couple of days.
One of my friends mentioned to me to check on her eggs. My trip was planned for next week, but his hint coaxed me to waste no time. I wanted a perfect shot this time.
On reaching the site, things were not the way as was seen in the earlier visit. The nest had almost vanished. Only remnants of the nest with disorganised twigs still remained. I looked around a little disheartened. Was the nest destroyed by some hunter? I hoped my thoughts were proved wrong.
While I sat on my Bullet on a road siding adjacent to the pond, people going to pay obeisance to Baba Ramdev were slogging by. ‘Jai Babe Ri’ was resounding as they walked on.
An educated guess brought me to the conclusion that the duck should have flown away as these pedestrians were disturbing her by getting down to the waterfront. Some halted to rest under the shady trees, some to ease themselves, and some to even take a bath. Clothes were strung across the embankments of that pond.
Some movement on the Island in the lake caught my attention. It was definitely a duck. I broke into an ear-to-ear smile when I saw two ducklings bobbing up and down alongside mama duck. Probably they must have been under her wings when I spotted her. When they felt safe, they came out to frolic, dipping their heads in water and riding the waves.
Just before they decided to go under the wings of mama again, I took a pic. Though the pic was not very clear but good enough to confirm that the eggs had hatched and the ducklings were safe.
As I was winding up a couple passing by asked me, “jatroo ra agla Rasora kathe hai” meant where is the next feeding halt for the devotees. I had seen one about two kilometres down the road from where we were and informed them so.
While we were conversing, the duck and its ducklings vanished. The man had got down to the water to check something. His wife so innocently asked me, ‘ye pani nahane layak hai koni’. I laughed at myself, as if I take a dip in it every day and could certify the cleanliness of the water. ‘Manne tha koni’, I don’t know, I said.
A dip in that pond would definitely bring them some relief from the heat. I glanced at my mobile. It was close to lunch time. They needed food and some rest and I needed to head back home.
I was so happy from inside. Mama duck and her chicks were safe. Though they are beautiful and cute, I will call them the “Ugly Ducklings”, a fairy tale we read in childhood. Did I stop for Chai-Pakora? You wonder!!!!!!!!
JAI HIND
© ® NOEL ELLIS
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